Student Loans For Single Mothers: Your Roadmap To Success (2024)

F or single moms, earning a degree can be more of a challenge than for other students.

Not only is much of their time spent caring for children, but they have extra mouths to feed, which often leaves less money left over to pay for education.

However, a bachelor’s degree can be an important tool to help single moms get ahead.

According to the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, 25-to-34-year-olds with a bachelor’s degree earned 55% more than those with only a high school diploma in 2021.

There are no student loans specifically designed for single parents.

However, there are plenty of types of loans and other financial aid that can help them ease the cost burden of higher education.

Student Loans For Single Moms

1. Federal Student Loans For Single Moms

One of the best sources of federal student loans is the federal government.

You’re eligible for federal loans if you:-

• Have a financial need?
• Are you a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen?
• Are enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program?

Federal student loans come with some key benefits.

First, they have competitive fixed interest rates that are set by the federal government.

Unlike other types of loans, eligibility for federal loans isn’t based on your credit score, meaning even people with poor credit can qualify.

Here’s how much you can borrow in student loans:-

The federal government also doesn’t require you to make loan payments while you’re in school.

Your loans are deferred while you’re in school and for a six-month grace period afterward.

Finally, federal loans have plenty of benefits when it comes to repayment.

There are multiple payment plans to choose from, including income-based ones.

You may also be eligible for loan forgiveness for a variety of reasons, including working in public service or paying on an income-driven plan for a certain number of years.

Here’s how to apply for federal student loans:-

A. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

This application allows you to be eligible for all federal aid, including loans, grants, and work-study.

You must complete this application each year you need financial aid.

B. Get your aid offer:

Once you’ve been accepted into a school, you’ll get your financial aid offer, which outlines how much of each type of aid you’re eligible for.

Lower-income students are often eligible for more free aid, which we’ll discuss more below.

C. Receive your loans:

Once the school year begins, your federal loans will be sent directly to the school you’re attending.

Any amount left will be sent to you to help you pay for other costs associated with your education.

D. Repay your loans:

Once you graduate or leave school, it’s time to start thinking about repayment.

You’ll have a six-month grace period to get organized, choose a repayment plan, and make room for your payments in your budget.

2. Private Student Loans For Single Moms

If federal loans aren’t an option or you’ve maxed out the amount you can borrow, consider applying for private student loans.

Unlike federal loans, private lenders consider your creditworthiness when determining loan approval.

If you have poor credit score, you may not qualify for private loans, may need to add a co-signer to your application, or may be stuck with a higher interest rate.

Keep in mind that private loans have some downsides compared to private loans.

First, because interest rates aren’t uniform for everyone, many borrowers end up with higher rates.

There are also fewer repayment options — there often aren’t income-based payment plans, and you may even be required to make payments while you’re still in school.

If you’re considering using a private loan to pay for school, here’s how to get started:-

A. Shop around:

There are many private student loan lenders, and it’s important to find one that meets your unique needs, especially as a single parent.

B. Get prequalified:

Many lenders allow you to prequalify for a loan with a soft credit inquiry before officially applying.

This prequalification won’t hurt your credit score.

C. Apply for your loan:

Once you’ve been prequalified and are happy with the loan offer and interest rate you receive, you can officially submit your application.

D. Receive your loan funds:

As with a federal loan, your loan funds will be sent to your school, and the rest will be distributed to you to use for living expenses.

E. Repay your loans:

Pay close attention to the repayment rules on your private loans, as you may have to make payments during school or immediately afterward.

What Single Moms Can Use Student Loans For?

Student loans, both federal and private, are generally intended to be used for educational expenses.

First and foremost, student loans can be used for tuition and fees charged by your university.

Other expenses directly related to education may include room and board, textbooks, supplies, technology, and more.

Student loans can also be used for certain living expenses.

For example, if you’re living off-campus rather than in a dorm room — which is likely to be the case for single moms — you can use a portion of your loans to pay for housing and other living expenses.

Other Types Of Financial Aid For Single Moms

While student loans can be helpful — and often necessary — tools in helping single moms to pay for college, they aren’t the only option.

In fact, there are a few options you should prioritize above loans.

While student loans must be repaid, there are several types of free aid that don’t need to be repaid.

And unlike student loans, there are some specifically designed to help single parents.

Those types of financial aid include:-

1. Scholarships:

A scholarship is a type of free financial aid that’s awarded based on a student’s academic or athletic achievement or because they are part of a specific demographic.

For example, there are some scholarships specifically for single parents.

2. Grants:

Agrant is another type of free financial aid for single moms, but rather than being awarded based on achievement or demographics, it’s based on financial need.

The federal government is the largest provider of grants through itsPell Grant.

3. Work study:

The federal work-study program allows students with financial need to work in exchange for money to help pay for their education.

Like scholarships and grants, work-study dollars are free money and don’t need to be repaid.

Conclusion

Paying for college as a parent can be challenging, but you don’t have to go it alone.

There are plenty of financial aid options available to help you pay for your education, including both federal and private student loans.

While federal loans are the best option for most students, some people may opt for private loans, either in addition to or instead of federal loans.